Raymate

What options do you have for getting TV, it looks like you can only watch TV if you pay for it, is this true?

Or is their a system like our "Freeview" that we have in the UK?

My wife (already out in Toronto) has Rogers but most of the channels look rubbish.

Is it true you are locked into the service, even to the point that you need to pay for a box to watch TV in more than one room with more than one TV?

Is their anyway to get UK TV Feed over, how about satellite or is it too far away to bounce the signal.


It looks like you can not pick up DAB Radio in Canada, only some sort of satellite radio that you subscribe to and pay for..... is DAB Coming to Canada, it seems such a easy and better way to transmit radio?

dbd33

No. We get free TV through a technology called "rabbit ears".

Yes. It's rubbish. Most of the images transmitted are adverts and the few programs make no sense whatsoever. Furthermore they all feature the same half a dozen actors and actresses, the whinny woman from Corner Gas is the whinny woman in Robson Arms. (Two shows requiring a huge spliff in order to make any sense). I expect she was blacked up to whine in Little Mosque on the Prarie.

otoh, Canadian Idol makes you appreciate the quality and personal class of singers like Britney Spears.

Dunno. I have a satellite radio and pay to get the BBC in the car.

Biiiiink

I don't pay, I've got an aerial up on the roof and a rotator thingy so I can turn it round to point towards different transmitters. Admittedly I'm in a better location than you for picking up multiple over-the-air channels, but no doubt there are some you could get that way. I think I have 25, some duplicates for Detroit/Toledo.

No, but some of the stuff I get is HD over the air (American). And my TV has a built-in TV Guide thingy, so it has that Sky/Freeview/cable feel when I'm watching it. And it's free.

For an extra digital box yes, for extra analog hook-ups no, they'll connect whatever you want (or Shaw did for us at least).

A lot of UK stuff is available on the internet.

I recently got XM satellite radio in the car, I doubt I'll pay for it when my free 3mths is up but it's not too bad in general. I think the other provider (Sirius) carries Radio 1, and that might swing it for you.

Here's some DAB info, I won't pretend to understand any of it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...casting#Canada

JonboyE

In Vancouver there are a few broadcast channels - CBC, Radio Canada, CTV and Global, maybe one or two more. You can get these for free with a set-top aerial but reception may not be great. Other than this you have to subscribe to either a cable or satellite provider.

The basic cable package of 28 channels is about $30 a month. You can add on bundles of channels as you wish. For cable, the analogue channels do not need a decoder, you just plug the TV into the wall. For digital channels you need to buy or rent a decoder from the cable company. I have an old one and it will only power one TV at a time. Although I can run 4 TVs in the house I can only receive digital channels on one. I think the newer decoders (and satellite decoders) can operate more than one TV at a time.

There is some good TV in Canada but it is spread among so many channels that it can be hard to track down. There is certainly plenty of rubbish. You can subscribe to BBC North America if you wish, otherwise the best bet for quality British programs are the Public Broadcasting Service channels.

geo4

PBS all the way if you have to watch TV, but Jesus man; try going for a walk / bike ride before the weather means you'll be unable to.

Howard1944

Any TV is an improvement over the rubbish served in the U.K, would you like to watch cricket or cricket?

I have a Satellite, over 150 Channels, mainly watch the Business Channel.

Next stop, 62 inch Big Screen

dbd33

A bigger screen's not going to improve the content though, is it? It seems a bit pointless (unless you can get the cricket somehow).

Oakvillian

On what basis, Howard, do you dismiss UK television as "rubbish"?

Can you cite one single occasion on which cricket coverage has been available on more than one channel simultaneously?

If you mainly watch the Business Channel, why do you subscribe to a service which offers you 149 other channels you don't watch much?

What do you mean by the Business Channel - do you mean BNN, formerly known as ROB TV?

What advantages will a 62 inch screen offer you for watching the business channel?

Howard1944

I am buying a 62 inch screen because I can, and Yes, ROB, CNBC, the new FOX Channel, and besides, the room it is going in sooooo large, it needs it.

I visit the U.K routinely, TV there is CRAP, boring, nothing, the people are forced to go binge drinking at Pubs as an alternative.

I also have a large collection of DVD's, so we pick and choose what we watch.

Raptors, Bills, Blue Jays, what more could you want?

dbd33

Cricket.

manghams

[QUOTE=Biiiiink;5298801]



A lot of UK stuff is available on the internet.


What about UK soaps, X-Factor, Holby, Casualty, Dr Who???

It might be a long winter without them -

We are due over end of October; just in time for some snow?

geo4

[QUOTE=manghams;5299485] Holby City you're having a laugh. Go ski-ing.

Sheesshhh.

manghams

[QUOTE=geo4;5299568] Love to - but when I break a leg/arm both will need to watch TV.
lol

mandymoochops

Like was mentioned earlier you can watch tv over the net. I too will miss Dr Who and thats about it, and hard as it sounds we haven't had a tv for nearly 2 years - it kills conversation and I don't want to be vegged out in front of it when theres a life to lead (obviously aside from vegging out in front of the pc 24 / 7 )

But try this website its amazing, people have uploaded loaaaads of film, tv shows, cartoons etc www.alluc.org and you don't need a license as its not 'live' tv. Some great documentaries and as people keep adding to the content you will always keep up with whats on.

You tube is always good but as most vids are kept to a 10 minute maximum some shows / films will be in several parts!

JonboyE

No worries then. Dr Who is on CBC.